Features interviews with presidents Santos and Pérez Molina and former presidents Clinton, Carter, Gaviria, Zedillo and Cardoso on the failure of global drug laws.

Narrated by award-winning actor Gael Garcia Bernal, “Breaking the Taboo,” takes a critical look at how after 50 years of prohibition, illicit drugs are now the third most valuable industry in the world after food and oil. Speaking during the documentary former US President Bill Clinton admits, “Obviously if the expected results were that we would eliminate serious drug use in America and eliminate the narco-trafficking networks, it hasn’t worked.”

“Breaking the Taboo” was filmed in 8 countries; conducted interviews with over 176 people; and has the support of former Presidents & The Global Commission on Drug Policy. The film features interviews with presidents Santos and Pérez Molina and former presidents Clinton, Carter, Gaviria, Zedillo and Cardoso on the failure of global drug laws. It follows The Global Commission on Drug Policy on a mission to break the political taboo over the United States led War on Drugs and expose what it calls the biggest failure of global policy in the last 40 years.

Former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, of Brazil who attended the premiere in New York says: “I’m not proposing to replace war with peace; I propose to replace war with a smarter fight. A fight using other instruments, more intelligent instruments to convince people not to use drugs. It is why we have to break the taboo.”

“Breaking the Taboo” sets out facts and figures on a war that is failing on all fronts. The film calls for its audience to demand an honest debate amongst politicians and to break the taboo on a subject that for many decades has been viewed by the majority of world leaders as “political suicide”.

To facilitate this Sundog Pictures is approaching the distribution of “Breaking the Taboo” in a groundbreaking way, to encourage as much participation in this crucial debate as possible, by partnering with YouTube to host a completely free of charge worldwide premiere. The film went live on December 7th on its own branded channel – http://www.youtube.com/breakingthetaboofilm

“Breaking the Taboo’s” digital strategy embarks on a new model for film distribution, by soley distributing on You Tube. Sundog Pictures Managing Director Johnny Webb said, “It’s incredibly difficult to get significant theatrical distribution even for the most acclaimed feature documentary, and even then you can measure audiences in the tens of thousands. By substituting cinema with YouTube, we believe we can reach millions of people rather than merely thousands, and create a virtuous circle of promotion which will boost viewing in the global TV window.”

“Breaking the Taboo” has also garnered the support of Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson and Oscar winning actor Morgan Freeman and actor Gael Garcia Bernal, who have recorded viral announcements encouraging the public to “Break the Taboo” on the war on drugs. Other celebrities will be joining the campaign. Virals can be viewed and the campaign followed on: #BreakTheTaboo

Sundog has also partnered with academic think tank the Beckley Foundation and online movement Avaaz to run a campaign website and petition. The target for the petition is one million signatures. It will be presented to the United Nations in January to call for a change to global policy on drugs prohibition and explore alternatives to the failed war on drugs; which is a major objective of the film.

“Breaking the Taboo” is produced by Sam Branson’s indie Sundog Pictures and Brazilian co-production partner Spray Filmes and was directed by Cosmo Fielding Mellen and Fernando Grostein Andrade. The film is available in English and Spanish. Watch it:

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The purpose of The Global Commission on Drug Policy is to bring to the international level an informed, science-based discussion about humane and effective ways to reduce the harm caused by drugs and drug control policies to people and societies.

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